Now, Ao Tu learned from the young woman that this place was White Tiger Ridge.
He began turning a plan over in his mind.
He asked her, "What is your name? Who else is in your family, and why have you come up the mountain alone?"
The young woman replied, "My lord Dragon God, my name is Qiao'er. Both my parents are still living, but they are old. They wanted to find a husband for me, but demons have been running wild in the mountains these past few years. All the nearby families have moved away, so they could find no one.
"My parents are too old to travel far, so I must care for them alone. I grow crops that take little tending in our fields, and come up the mountain every day to gather mushrooms and wild greens to keep us fed."
Ao Tu said, "May I visit your home?"
Qiao'er said, "It would be a great blessing to have you visit, my lord Dragon God, but..."
"But what?" Ao Tu asked.
"It's just that your attendant looks so fierce. My parents are old, and I fear they couldn't bear the fright."
At this, Ao Tu blew out a breath and cast a transformation spell, turning Tiger Vanguard into a sturdy hunter. He hid his own dragon horns and golden scales, then said, "Let's go."
Qiao'er agreed and led Ao Tu and Tiger Vanguard back to her home.
When a thatched cottage came into view in the distance, Qiao'er told them it was her home.
Even as she spoke, a sinister wind swept in from the horizon, billowing with black fog. It tore the roof off the cottage and swept two people out from within: an old man and an old woman, both around sixty or seventy. Caught in the wind, their faces were filled with terror as they cried for help.
"Father! Mother!"
Frantic, Qiao'er hurried after them, but how could she possibly catch up? Instead, she fell and gashed her pale wrist.
Seeing this, Qiao'er ignored the pain and hurried back to kneel before Ao Tu. She pleaded, "My lord Dragon God, please save my parents! If you can rescue them, I'll gladly serve you like an ox or a horse for the rest of my life."
Ao Tu helped her up and said, "There's no need to serve me like an ox or a horse. Just play along with me for a few days."
Qiao'er looked puzzled. "Play along?"
Ao Tu took Qiao'er's wrist and blew on it. The gaping wound vanished, leaving her wrist as sound as ever.
Ao Tu said, "Wait here. I'll pursue that demon and rescue your parents. Afterward, you must play along with me. I'll ask for your hand in marriage, and you must agree."
Qiao'er's face flushed crimson. She lowered her head, at a loss for words, then stole a glance at Ao Tu. Seeing how handsome he was, she felt all the more shy and delighted.
Ao Tu said, "Don't worry. It's only an act. Your honor won't be sullied."
Qiao'er agreed, bowing and thanking him again and again. Deep down, she even hoped their make-believe might become real.
Ao Tu rose on a cloud and pursued the demon.
The demon flew to a cavern called White Bone Cave and swept Qiao'er's parents inside. After rendering them unconscious, she prepared to devour them.
Following close behind, Ao Tu sent out the Dragon-Binding Rope. In an instant, it bound the demon and forced her to reveal her true form: a white bone spirit, her bones as white as jade. Clearly, she had cultivated for a very long time.
Finding herself bound by the Dragon-Binding Rope in the blink of an eye, unable to summon her magic or move a single step, the demon knew she had encountered a mighty expert. She hurriedly said:
"I don't know how I have offended you, exalted immortal. Please forgive me!"
Ao Tu said, "What is your name, and what kind of demon are you?"
The demon replied, "I am called Lady White Bone. I arose from the bones of a woman who died a violent death in these mountains. I meant no offense, exalted immortal. Please spare my life."
Ao Tu said, "I'm no exalted immortal. I'm a demon, just like you, known as the King of Spirit Mountain. Monks are my favorite food. In a few days, some monks from the Eastern Land will pass through here. If you're willing to capture them for me, I'll spare you."
Lady White Bone hastily replied, "I am willing, most willing! I gladly pledge myself to you, my king, and will serve before your saddle and behind your horse."
Hearing this, Ao Tu withdrew the Dragon-Binding Rope.
Once freed from the Dragon-Binding Rope, Lady White Bone regained her magic and assumed her usual appearance. She was exceedingly beautiful.
Skin like ice concealed jade bones; her collar revealed a creamy breast.
Emerald sleeves enfolded slender bamboo-shoot fingers; her silken skirt trailed red with every step.
Rosy cheeks held the dew of dawn; moth-wing brows gathered smoky blue.
Golden-lotus shoes concealed jade feet, enchanting amid the hues of spring.
Ao Tu said, "You skeleton spirit, why put on a pretty face and flaunt your charms before me?"
Lady White Bone said aggrievedly, "My king, this is how I originally looked. How would I dare flaunt myself before you? If it displeases you, I can make myself uglier."
Ao Tu said, "Then I misunderstood you. Don't take offense. I'm taking these two people with me. From now on, act on my orders and don't stir up trouble on your own."
Lady White Bone knelt and bowed, accepting his command.
Ao Tu then took Qiao'er's parents out of the cave and returned on a cloud.
Qiao'er was waiting there, craning her neck in anticipation. The moment she saw Ao Tu return, delight spread across her face.
Ao Tu set her parents down and blew a breath of dragon qi over them. The two immediately awoke and looked around at everyone in bewilderment.
Upon seeing Qiao'er, they hurriedly asked, "Daughter, weren't we carried off by a demon? How did we get here? Who are this young gentleman and this brave fellow?"
Ao Tu said, "Please get up first, elders. There's no need to be afraid. My name is Long Tu, and I am a young gentleman from the Baoxiang Kingdom, not far from here. This brave fellow is my attendant.
"My family fell on hard times, and I came here to hide from our enemies. Fortunately, I met Miss Qiao'er, who gave me food. Just now, when I saw that demon carry you both away, I took my attendant after her to her cave and rescued you."
The elderly couple were deeply grateful and hastily invited Ao Tu and his attendant home to thank them.
But when they reached the house, they found that the demonic wind had torn apart the thatched cottage, leaving their home in ruins.
The two elders could not help shedding tears. They were old and feeble, and Qiao'er was a frail young woman. When could they ever repair this ruined house? They no longer even had a place to shelter from wind and rain.
Ao Tu said, "Why grieve, old sir? Watch me repair this house!"
Ao Tu and Tiger Vanguard went up the mountain to fell trees and brought the timber back. They raised the cottage's fallen posts and joined the broken sections with new wood, while Qiao'er and her parents gathered up the scattered thatch. In just two hours, the cottage was restored to its former state.
Amazed by Ao Tu's strength, the two elders thanked him a thousand times over and hurriedly invited him inside. They had Qiao'er cook their best rice and brought out their savings to repay him.
Ao Tu refused, saying only that he wished to stay here for a while.
The two elders readily agreed. Since they had no spare beds at home, they even gave up their own bed for Ao Tu and his attendant to rest.
Ao Tu rested for one night. The next day, he and Tiger Vanguard built a wooden house beside the elders' cottage. Over the following days, the two hunted in the mountains, bringing back meat to share with Qiao'er and her family.
Within a few days, thanks to Ao Tu's help, life had improved for Qiao'er's family.
Seeing this, Qiao'er's parents began thinking of marrying her to Ao Tu.
Qiao'er was naturally willing.
But she dared not decide on her own, so she found an opportunity to ask Ao Tu.
Ao Tu said, "It's not time yet. When the moment comes, I'll ask your family for your hand. You must make sure to play along."
Qiao'er readily agreed.
Her rosy face glowed with springtime tenderness, and her heart brimmed with anticipation.
Several more days passed. Ao Tu's arrangements here were nearly complete, and he reckoned Tang Sanzang and his disciples would soon reach Wuzhuang Temple. Using the excuse that he needed to visit the city to seek news of his family, he left with Tiger Vanguard.
They rode a cloud to Wuzhuang Temple. Looking around from the air, Ao Tu saw that Tang Sanzang and his disciples were still several days away. He descended from the cloud and took on the appearance of a Daoist priest.
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